National Republican., 1887-08-03
Tho Customs Laws as to Distilled
Spirits, Wine, md Beer,

The act approved March 3.1ss3, ts the law
which governs the importatlons of wines,
distilled spirits, and malt liquors, fixing
the duties and the smallest sized package
in which any Of these articles cln be In.
ported.
All "wlnes, brandes, and other spirltuous
liquors imported in bottles shall be packed
in packages containing not less than Que
dozen bottles In each PACKAGE So that q
dozen pint bottles is the smallest package
Of bottled liquors that can be imp orted
Champagne aud other sparkling wines pay
duty OF $3.50 for the dozen pint bottles
Still wines pay 81 GO per case OF q dozen
quart bottles, or 60 cents per gallon in
casks.
Brandy and other spirits distilled from
grain pays s2 per proof gallon, and can b.
imported in bottles, as above stated, or IN
casks containing not less than fourteen
gallons. Ale, porter, and beer In bottles
or jugs pays 35 cents per gallon; 10 any
other style of package 20 cents per gallon.
Ninety cents per gallon is the Internal
revenue tax on distilled spirits, and 81 per
barrel OF thirty-one gallons on malt liquors
manufactured and consumed In the United
States.
Twelve p!nts OF brandy, gin, rum,
whisky, or any other distilled spirits can
be imported in q package. That Is Que
gallon and half, aud the duty on 1t would
To SO, which, having paid, the importer,
or any one to whom he sells it anywhere In
the United States, prohlbitory state laws to
the contrary Notwithstanding, eau sell In
tie unbroken package.
The decisions of the Supreme Court
quoted in the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN OF
July 12 and Aug. settle this question
beyond controversy. The state cannot pre-
zen! the sale Of liquor in The mJroken I'M
ported package. The result is that prohl-
itlon does not prohibit any one but the
home manufacturer. 1t is an easy matter
where one man does not wish to purchase
dozen bottles at time for two or more
to combine and do 80, and divide after the
purchase is made, and SO any quantity OF
imported liquors can be sold.
The fact that the duty on distilled spirits
is more than double the tax on home-manu-
featured spirits is no protection at all to the
American manufacturer. The duty on
beer is six times the iaternal revenue tax
but that affords no protection to the beer
manufacturer, because the state can pro-
hlbit either the American distiler or the
American brewer from selling his product
lean wine grower.
Here is common ground upon which the
producers Of wine, beer, and distilled
spirits can meet with the advocate OF TEN
perance and the prohlbItonist In the de
mand for change in the national customs
laws. One party desires to prohibit the
sale by the operation OF state laws, but tn,
customs laws and the decisions Of the Su
preme Court protect the importer OF for
eIgn liquors and opens the market for th'
Eale OF his importations in small packages
in retail quantities. The temperance mer
are as much interested in changing the Gus
toms laws to prevent this as are the AmsrI'
can producers of distilled spirits, wines,
and beers, whose every interest 1t is to de.
stroy this discrimination against their pro-
duction. Temperance men will see that, SC
long as these laws remain unchanged, state
prohibition does not prohibit.
The American production is under strc
national supervision. Foreigu production
fhould be put under stricter supervision
No importation should be permitted OF an!
article in the list that is not absolutely
Jtre, proven 80 by tests made at the plae,